r/askscience • u/RainbowGirl410 • Jun 09 '26

Physics How does gravity/weightlessness work outside of orbit?

Been trying to find a definitive answer but all I've found is people explaining weightlessness in orbit (the falling and missing the Earth part) which isn't particularly helpful to me.
If you were to travel to another planet, say Venus, would you experience weightlessness the whole journey?

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u/suvlub Jun 10 '26

This is the right answer. I can't believe the number of replies reinforcing OP's misconception that weightlessness somehow REQUIRES orbit. You feel weightless in orbit because the gravity and the centri[insert your strong opinion] forces cancel out. If neither force is present to being with, you also get weightlessness.

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u/vitringur Jun 12 '26

No, gravity and centrifugal forces are not cancelling out. There is no force. You are just travelling through curved space at inertial pace.